Celebrations

This past weekend, our office manager, Semei, had a traditional Ugandan "introduction" and wedding. That made me forgive him for not paying the internet bill last week. Sometimes things can preoccupy your mind, and that's OK.

An introduction is a Buganda tradition. Buganda is the largest tribe in Uganda. In an introduction, the groom and his family is introduced to the bride, her family and friends. There are gifts, dancing, traditional dresses, shouting for joy, and plenty of other traditions.

The introduction was on Friday, and the wedding ceremony, much more similar to an American ceremony, was on Saturday, followed by a reception. I thought Semei was not enjoying himself throughout all the ceremonies. His bride was dancing and looked incredibly happy, but Semei was not dancing much at the introduction. But, then, at the wedding, he put on his dancing shoes! He was spinning Winnie (his new bride) and hopping all around the place. Later, he explained to me that you should usually be very serious at the introduction, since you are making a first impression on the parents.

I am glad the same was not true of the wedding reception, because it was a joy for me to see this new family's fresh joy of a new life together. Dancing must be one of the most clear and natural expressions of joy God gave us. I look forward so much to the joyful day when Cristal and I will be dancing for joy to celebrate our new life together! Even more, how about the dancing when we celebrate the marriage supper of Jesus? No one is going to have to tell me to dance, they just might have to ask me to stop!

On Sunday, I was lured away on a boda-boda (motorcycle) ride to a surprise half-birthday party. I had no idea what was coming or that it was even my half birthday! It was a fun celebration, as well, and we ate Indian food with my favorite dessert... hot-fudge brownie Sundae. Notice the long-horn cattle in the background of the restaurant pictures. Those cows are beautiful, and I see them as they're herded up and down the streets every day.

I finished the book I was reading, "4 Views on Hell," and am looking forward to talking with Brad, our eMi director who recommended it to me, all about my thoughts. It seems to me that the main problem with Clark Pinnock's annihilation view, which Brad agrees with, is that it is held up by a theology which places man and man's rights at the center of the universe. Is God not at the center of everything? Does He really care more about man than he does about himself?

Today I am starting to read "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd," edited by Jonathan Edwards. Has anyone ever read that one?

Easter At the Village

I had a great weekend in Mathias' village, and it was a very special Easter, indeed. I have been privileged to be able to help Mathias with school fees for a few years, since God has blessed me with more than I need, and it was amazing to see how this was an answer to diligent prayers of his parents! His mom and dad were so incredibly grateful! They also fed me tons of food. I wish I would have taken a picture of the food, but I forgot. We ate bowls full of food, most of which came directly from Mathias' dad's plantation. On the plantation, he grows bananas, sugar cane, beans, papaya, matoke (un-sweet bananas that are used like potatoes), and jack fruit. Jack fruit are the huge fruits you can see Mathias climbing up the tree to get.

In the pictures, you can see the church that Mathias' dad pastors. I am sitting next to him on the bench, and a guest speaker is speaking about how to prepare to live in a spiritual battle. It was a great church service, and afterward I met Mathias' grandfather. He was a happy old man, but we were not able to talk very much.

Mathias and I had fun exploring the plantation and eating sugar cane. We climbed a big hill, and we both slipped several times on the steep slope. The gorgeous view was worth it. I also saw what looked like a cactus/tree and some very beautiful wild flowers, unlike any I have seen in Tennessee.

The trip was great, and my only complaint is that I now have a bruise on my rear end from the long, bumpy ride home!

"Four Views on Hell"

Being here for two and a half months, and growing closer to my fellow interns as we eat together most nights, study the Bible together, pray together, work together, and do all those little life things together (cooking, dishes, walking, etc), we have had conversations about almost everything under the sun. Sometimes we laugh and talk about movies while sometimes we yell and debate hard questions about God. I love it. I am so glad we don't have a TV here! I have noticed that I have much different views about God then most of the other guys. This has made our conversations all the more interesting and challenging. Asking ourselves why we believe as we do reveals some interesting things.

One of the things Brad, our eMi Uganda director, and I have talked about several times is hell. What is it? How does our view of it reflect our view of God? Is it literal? Is it figurative? Is it eternal?

It is ironic that I had just finished John Piper's "Let the Nations be Glad," in which Piper both explains in detail why the Bible supports a conscious eternal suffering view of hell and critiques several other theologians' views, mostly the annihilation view of hell. It took me a moment to remember why the name Clark Pinnock sounded so familiar when Brad told me he agrees with his view of hell. Then it hit me... Pinnock is the author whose particular works Piper attacked most adamantly in his book! I mostly agreed with everything Piper wrote about hell being eternal conscious suffering, as I tend to agree with almost everything I have read of Piper's, so far. However, I sometimes reluctantly will try to keep an open mind, and I have decided to read the book which presents Pinnock's and three others' views on hell. It is very interesting. So far, my favorite part is after the conclusion of each author's view, where the other three authors offer their critiques. I had plenty of time to read it slowly today, as it was a public holiday (Good Friday), and I did not work but went to a local garden/health club to read and spend time alone with God. Pinnock's view is the final one, and the only one I have not read yet. I am sure it will make me angry, and I think that is OK.

For me, the most interesting thing about the whole concept of hell is how it helps us to know God. Many people have problems with the traditional/orthodox view of hell and even the metaphorical view, if it is still believed to be eternal conscious suffering. It can seem to make God look unjust. What about the bible verse we all know so well, "God is love"? Could a loving God send someone to suffer forever? I ask myself, "is that all God is? Love? Doesn't God also hate sin? Does he hate sinners, too? Can he love and hate someone at the same time?" As much as the whole idea of lost souls being tormented in flames bothers me, literal or symbolic, I acknowledge the fact that God is who He is. He does what he wants. He is God, and he is good, whatever he does, and yes, he is love.

I will probably discuss more of what I learn about God through studying hell soon. Have you wrestled with the reality of hell? Was it worthwhile? What did you learn?